Pakistan finally tastes victory at the end of their month long England tour. An all round effort- first with bat scoring a massive total of 190, then with ball- claiming wickets at crucial intervals and in the field too- with brilliant catch at boundary and 3 crucial run outs. England had two bright spots while chasing, Moeen Ali and Tom Banton, but their contributions were not enough to see through their side past the target. It was a perfect entertainer for viewers as the game went down to the wire and was decided only after the last ball was bowled.

Hafeez, Haider lift Pak batting

39 year old Hafeez is defying all those theories yet again, which claimed T20 is for youngsters only. He continued his purple patch with an unbeaten knock of 86 off 52 balls that comprised of six big hits out of the park. It also included four boundaries as well. His century partnership with debutant Haider Ali formed the base of Pakistan’s innings.

Haider Ali, the young gun playing his first international game, impressed one and all with his fearless strokeplay. He came at the fall of first wicket when Zaman was bowled off Ali’s ball that, from round the stumps, held its trajectory instead of turning away as Zaman expected. Haider launched Ali for a six on the very second ball that he faced. A few boundaries later, he had raced to his maiden fifty off 28 balls only. It took a perfect yorker from Jordan at the base of the stumps, to get rid of him. His 54 off 33 has 5 boundaries and two 6s.

Hafeez was particularly severe on Rashid, scoring three of his six 6s off him. Two of them were swept over square leg while one down the track. It was off Adil Rashid’s ball only that he got his fifty by a another sweep fetching 4. It took him 31 balls to reach the milestone. With 45 run stand with promoted Shadab Khan, Hafeez took his team to an eventual score of 190.

England falls short

Pakistan began their defense with a ripper from Shaheen Afridi. It was a pacy yorker that tailed away slightly and went through Bairstow’s defence. Banton resumed his attacking gameplay from last innings and scored three boundaries in an over twice, first off Wasim, then off Rauf.

Last match heroes Malan and Morgan couldn’t help their side this time. Malan perished trying to sweep Wasim over mid wicket. But Fakhar was placed there for the shot and he took a brilliant catch, timing his jump to perfection on the boundary line. Morgan was runout when a miscommunication left him stranded in the middle and Babar Azam after a nice stop, sent a perfect throw to keeper. Soon Banton fell, four runs short of his fifty, being leg before off Rauf. Ali and Billings put on a 57 run partnership but a slog across the line off Wahab ended Billings’ innings as the ball travelled to the safe hands of Wasim at third-man.

Moeen Ali brought some hope with his aggressive intent. In an over of Shadab Khan, he scored 3 sixes, a lofted drive over long off being the best of them. With a boundary off Rauf, he reached his half century in 26 balls. Riaz accounted for him with a short delivery that Ali mistimed while pulling and was caught by Riaz himself. Ali scored a quick fire 61(33) adorned by four hits to 4s and 6s each. Rauf has defend 17 in the last over with Curran and Rashid on crease. A six of penultimate ball meant England needed another 6 to win. But Rauf bowled a full ball outside off to bowl a dot and hand Paksitan their maiden victory on the tour by 5 runs. Mohammed Hafeez was adjudged both Man of the Match as well as the Series for his brilliant performance with bat.